The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Saturday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that question paper leaks and examination irregularities have plagued several NEET examinations over the years.
Systemic Failures in Examination Process
UP Congress president Ajay Rai stated that reports of question paper leaks emerged on social media, forcing the Centre to cancel the NEET examination and order a re-test. He said repeated lapses in national-level examinations point to systemic failures in the examination process.
Rai further alleged that the government's failure affected the future of lakhs of students and cited irregularities in various recruitment examinations, including those for revenue officials, police recruitment, and other competitive tests conducted in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere. He claimed that paper leaks undermined the credibility of the recruitment system.
Mental Stress on Students
Rai noted that several students across the country faced severe mental stress due to examination-related controversies. He said the Congress views the issue as a consequence of administrative failure and demands greater accountability from the authorities responsible for conducting examinations.
Congress Campaign for Education Reforms
Linking the issue to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ongoing outreach to students, Rai said the party launched the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign to gather suggestions on reforms in the education and examination systems. He said the initiative aims to build pressure for changes in the way competitive examinations are conducted.
National Testing Agency Under Scrutiny
The UP Congress chief also questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET and several other entrance examinations. He alleged that the agency repeatedly came under scrutiny following examination controversies and called for stronger oversight mechanisms.
Privatisation of Education
Rai further criticised what he described as the increasing privatisation of education and the rising cost of exam preparation, claiming that families are being forced to spend substantial amounts on coaching and schooling.
